about OpenBenchTop

I started a personal project slowly uploading all my 3D printed gadgets helping my job in biomedical research. This project focus on generic objects that you might find nice to have, that improves your quality of life in your line of work.

TinkerCAD link: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/b2uWpEDpmty

We deal with many sample aliquots and sometimes it's annoying to find new cardboard box with the tubes sitting too close to each other. On the other hand, we have many surplus epTIPS box lying around without tip refills (we moved away from eppendorf tips for logistic reason). I find those autoclavable box quite nice for temporarily holding hazardous specimens. 

Initially I made just the grate slots for tubes to sit into. My colleagues gave feedback that they'd like the flange and neck of the tubes raised a bit for easy operation. I took hint from my mini PCR tube rack's easy installation design, and created a baseplate to level the tubes up a bit, while maintaining compability with epTIPS autoclavable box 1.0 (I don't have box 2.0, from the rough look it might also be compatible).

The bottom plate has dimples to keep tubes in place, it also holds the smaller 0.5mL tubes, if you don't mind the wobbling.

I recommend printing in PLA as the material has relatively high layer adhesion keeping the pin-hole insert secure after installation. Materials of low layer adhesion might snap off the bottom plate from breaking the pins.